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Put aside poor conditions. For now, the surface isn't ready.

As NHL players preparing to make a comeback to the Olympic Games for the first time in over a decade, construction on the primary hockey arena for the Milan-Cortina Games is going down to the wire.

Officials announced on Wednesday that the primary test event for the 16,000-capacity Santagiulia facility originally planned for December has been moved to a more compact arena – and that no additional trial has been arranged yet.

The issue creates the possibility that there might not be a match held in the primary venue until the puck is dropped for the women’s preliminary round at the Olympics on 5 February – 24 hours before the inaugural event.

“It’s going to be extremely tight to the beginning of the games, the timeline is highly compressed. However, we were aware,” Milan-Cortina organizing body CEO Andrea Varnier said recently.

The event that was supposed to test the Santagiulia ice was a segment of the under-20 world championship from 8-14 December. That event has been moved to the Rho Fair hockey location, which is being set up inside a giant exhibition hall on the outskirts of Milan and will host lesser games during the games.

Typically, new Olympic venues are trialled at least the year before to holding podium competitions. And with a sizable hockey arena, it’s not just about the ice and making sure that the playing surface is ready and safe. It’s also about checking food outlets, restrooms and all other amenities inside a brand-new contemporary arena.

This new facility, which is being constructed by a private company, is slated to become Italy’s biggest indoor arena. Following the Olympics, it’s being eyed as a potential future host of the ATP Finals tennis event.

Despite the postponements and concerns, high-priced passes are already being sold for events at the Santagiulia arena. Seats for the men’s gold medal final on 22 February – the final day of the games – are going for as much as €1,400 (more than $1,600). This exceeds for any other sports event at the Milano Cortina Games. Only passes for the inaugural and final events are priced higher.

The comeback of NHL players at the Olympics was revealed last February, with the premier hockey league allowing its players to compete in the Winter Games for the initial occasion since 2014 in Sochi.

The men’s Olympic hockey tournament is set to take place from 11-22 February. The women’s event occurs from 5-19 February.